The world No 1 has returned from the brink and will play arch-rival Rafael Nadal, himself gunning for a fourth successive title in the final in Monte Carlo today

FIVE days after flirting with the most embarrassing defeat of his reign as world No 1 against an obscure Spaniard, Roger Federer today faces another episode in his rivalry with perhaps the greatest clay-court champion in history.

Rafael Nadal, who has been in his element on the red dust of Monte Carlo this past week, faces Federer in the final for the third year in succession. Nadal will be going for his fourth successive title at Europe's opening ATP Masters Series event.

The 21-year-old from Majorca leads 8-6 in all meetings against Federer; more pertinently, he is 6-1 ahead in their matches on clay.

Nadal's victims on the way to the final make impressive reading: Mario Ancic, twice champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, David Ferrer and fourth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko. In yesterday's semi-final Davydenko joined the collection of straight-sets victims, falling 6-3 6-2.